Cross-Promotion: The New Frontier for Self Storage Marketing

Getting your brand name out there is never an easy feat. Yes, there’s social networking sites, search engine optimization, and the credibility of your customer service and website, but what really engages consumers is your interaction with them.

Take Southwest Airlines, for example. Voted continually as a top ranked company across the board – accolades including favorite domestic airline, MSN’s “Top 10 Companies that Treat you Right,” No. 1 ranking in many areas on Zagat’s website, and placing fourth in Fortune’s “World’s Most Admired Company” – you can’t help but wonder what they’re doing right.

What a great cross-promotional idea that was. And what makes it work is that both partners were compatible within the industry. Southwest is all about luggage and The Container Store (an organized living destination) is all about organized travel.

How can this transfer over to the self storage industry? Easy. If you’d like to do something similar, pair up with a local professional organizer and host a workshop for renters on how to effectively organize their unit and store their items. Check out the National Association of Professional Organizers. On the NAPO website, you can search by zip code and contact a professional organizer near you.

You can also think of other ways to cross-promote yourself. Sponsor a school’s garage sale, perhaps, or host a community charity event. Demonstrate to renters the different types of storage box methods available to them (i.e. plastic vs. cardboard), or educate them on the effects weather damage can have on their belongings.

Have you already down a cross-promotional event? Sound off with suggestions below!

Kendra Bozarth, Former storEDGE Writer

Kendra graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in creative writing and later moved to Kansas City. When she isn’t writing, she’s cuddling with her 120 pound French Mastiff named Tamba (Go Chiefs!).